Yesterday was the ribbon cutting ceremony for the new Menasha paddle launches at Jefferson Park and the Menasha Marina. The Jefferson Park launch can be found at the very far West end of the park. The best place to access the new paddle launch in Jefferson Park is from Broad Street near the intersection of Green Bay road.

Paddlers waiting in the Fox River for the ribbon cutting ceremony. The launch is a small floating platform on the seawall in the park. This launch location is part of the greater Fox Wisconsin Heritage Parkway and part of a water trail that will follow the Fox River through the Fox Cities.

Here’s the ribbon cutting as seen from the water.

Brian Tungate, Director of Parks and Recreation for the City of Menasha opened the ribbon cutting ceremony and thanked the Friends of the Fox and Fox Cities Greenways for their contributions. The Mayor of Menasha, Donald Merkes was also on hand and shared a few words of thanks. Pete Hensler, President of Friends of the Fox, shared the plans for a water trail from Green Bay to the Mississippi River that will be the Fox – Wisconsin Heritage Parkway.

After the ribbon cutting ceremony a group of paddlers decided to put the launch to use right away. The white platform floats and will make for easy launching and landing along the seawall as the water height shifts through out the paddling season.

Jeff Mazanec, President of North East Wisconsin Paddlers getting in his kayak at the new launch. There is a bit of current at the Jefferson Park paddle launch. It’s a good idea to point your kayak upstream when launching here like Jeff is doing in this photo. Jeff is demonstrating a safe way to enter your kayak by using your paddle behind you as a brace. It’s always a good idea to have a friend help steady the boat too.

Our ribbon cutting attendees head out for a paddle.

From Jefferson Park paddlers have easy access to Lake Winnebago. For quiet waters on windy days the channels directly South of Jefferson Park make for a nice short paddle.

Menasha also has an additional paddle launch on the West side of the Menasha Marina. The marina is a short paddle East through the city. Stay far river right to avoid the stronger currents and dam. The marina launch gives paddlers an option taking a break in downtown Menasha for refreshments or dining.

We want to thank the City of Menasha, Friend of the Fox and Fox Cities Greenways for making the Menasha waterfront more paddler friendly.

Have you paddled in Menasha? Will you be using these new paddling launches?